Paul, Silvanus and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (2) We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, (3) remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of God and Father, (4) knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God. (5) For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake.
The letter to the Thessalonians was written by the apostle Paul. In our verses today Paul omits his identification as an apostle, apparently not feeling the need to remind the young church of his apostolic authority which says a lot about the faith of the believers there. He continues in his introduction to give thanks to God rather than commending the Thessalonians because God chose them as believers of salvation apart from any human qualification they possessed. In verse 5, salvation through the gospel was identified as due to the power of the (indwelling at moment of faith) Spirit.
The doctrine of election is a frequent theme in Scripture. It’s God’s choice of us not our choice of Jesus; God’s elect, chosen by God. You know you are elect of God if He has powerfully changed your heart through your reception of the gospel. Election does not negate prayer but encourages it since salvation is God’s doing – Paul refers to his repeated prayers. Scripture shows how God always accomplishes God’s purpose – God sent Jesus to save his people and doesn’t leave that up to sinful human will. God ordains the means as well as the end. Because election is God’s purpose which cannot fail, it results in changed lives. Paul could see the results of election stemming from faith. We are saved by faith apart from merit on our part and apart from works; but real faith always results in works which are all of the good deeds we are called to do as believers. The doctrine of election in verse 4 is mentioned to remind the Thessalonians that in the midst of trials there is security in God.
The results seen in the Thessalonians were not just from the gospel but also from the power of the indwelling Spirit. So great was the change in the Thessalonians lives – real conversion – that others noticed it too. Ask God to give you a teachable heart – you know you are elect if God has powerfully changed your life through your reception of the gospel.